April 8, 2010

MLPs – Major League Prime Projections – have been around at Baseball Daily Digest since the 2006 season, and are the output of Rob McQuown’s proprietary system for determining the “typical” prime-years season for a minor-league player. Since bad years are often the result of injuries, the system was designed to give results which are in line with the average of the “middle” three seasons between ages 26-30 for a ballplayer, and players can be expected to have seasons above and below those represented as a course of normal variance, but the lines provide good benchmarks for what to expect when a player develops fully. NOTE: projections are “tuned” to 2009 MLB values, and are for neutral park and league. …

Opening Day: Triple-A Charlotte. After going from Low-A to the big leagues last year, Hudson will get consistent innings at Triple-A, and he’s first in line to get called up should injuries or poor performance necessitate a move.61. Jared Mitchell, OF, White Sox

Opening Day: Disabled List. In one of the most disappointing developments of the spring, Mitchell tore up his ankle leaping into the wall while trying to catch a fly ball and will miss the entire season after major surgery.72. Tyler Flowers, C, White Sox

Opening Day: Triple-A Charlotte. Still in line to be the regular catcher next year, Flowers should get some second-half big-league time to settle into the role.

What he needs to improve: Assuming Jordan is healthy, his priority will be cutting down on his strikeouts. Considering the former Longhorn isn’t a big power threat his K rate (23% in ’09) is dreadful. He simply can’t strikeout that much and succeed as a #2 type hitter in the Majors. You can’t blame the strikeouts on the injuries either. His monthly splits were consistent before and after the injuries.

Clevelan Santeliz, RHP: A setup man extraordinaire at Birmingham last summer, the Venezuelan prospect was added to the 40-man roster after posting an 0.96 ERA in 40 games and striking out 52 batters in 56 1/3 innings. He moved to the closer role at the end of the season and collected 10 saves. Throwing a fastball in the mid-90s and a plus slider, he pitches with a lot of energy and is a ton of fun to watch.

LHP David Holmberg (2[nd round]) is a high school star out of Florida who has four solid pitches, with a fastball that touches 90 mph, a 12-6 curve, a changeup and a slider. He also has a good feel for the mound.

RHP Kyle Bellamy (5) out of Miami is a fast-track prospect who combined for a 1.23 ERA in 20 games in relief between Bristol and Kannapolis, walking just two while striking out 32 in 22 innings. He limited hitters to a .169 average and then moved on to the Arizona Fall League, where he had a 1.59 ERA in five games.

RHP Justin Collop (6) out of Toledo had a 2.72 ERA in 15 games for Great Falls, striking out 33 in 39 2/3 innings and limiting Pioneer League hitters to a .257 average.

RHP Ryan Buch (8) out of Monmouth had the best fastball in the Draft class, one that touched the high 90s, as well as a curveball with plus potential. In 16 games in relief, he had a 3.38 ERA and limited hitters to a .183 average at Great Falls.

Laumann likes very much what he sees from David Holmberg this spring, and thinks Trayce Thompson will probably eventually move to a corner outfield position. Not this year though. Laumann also touches on Jared Mitchell, Bryce Harper, Charlie Leesman, Leroy Hunt, Stefan Gartrell, C.J. Retherford.

March 16, 2010

As expected, outfielder Jared Mitchell is going to miss the upcoming season after having surgery in Scottsdale, Ariz., Tuesday morning to repair a retinaculum tear of the tendon in his left ankle on the medial (inside) side.

Mitchell, the White Sox’ top prospect, suffered the injury making a catch during a Cactus League game against the Angels last Friday.

According to the Sox, the surgery lasted 75 minutes and the 21-year-old Mitchell is expected to make a full and complete recovery. He will be immobilized for 4-6 weeks before beginning rehabilitation.
In exhibition play this spring, Mitchell was 4-for-9 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.

White Sox outfielder Jared Mitchell underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a retinaculum tear of the tendon in his left ankle on the medial (inside) side.Mitchell, 21, is expected to miss the 2010 season, but his prognosis is to make a full and complete recovery. He will be immobilized for 4-6 weeks before beginning the rehabilitation process.

The 75-minute procedure, performed by Dr. John Nassar, a foot and ankle specialist at the Greenbaum Outpatient Surgery in Scottsdale, Ariz., went “extremely well.”

Mitchell, who suffered the injury making a catch on March 12 at the Los Angeles Angels, will undergo a follow-up examination on Friday.

“If it doesn’t work, be rest assured we will do everything in our power to correct the problem. There is already a list in place for “replacements” if the DH situation doesn’t work. We always have a contingency plan, and this is no exception. With that said, we do feel strongly in Andruw and Mark the DH position.”

Hahn also says he views Tyler Flowers as a catcher but he could help in another way this season. DH?

White Sox top prospect Jared Mitchell is scheduled for surgery Tuesday in Scottsdale to repair a posterior tib tear of the left ankle tendon.Mitchell, last June’s No. 1 draft choice, injured his ankle while making a catch Friday in Tempe.

He will be examined Monday and have the surgery performed Tuesday by foot and ankle specialist Dr. John Nasser. A rehabilitation schedule will be set following the surgery, but Mitchell is expected to miss the entire season.

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Jared Mitchell was carted off the field Friday after getting hurt while making a spectacular, against-the-wall catch on a drive off the bat of the Angels’ Juan Rivera. Mitchell suffered a posterior tib tendon tear on the medial side of his left ankle. He will have surgery next week and his rehab and recovery time will be set then. …

Prospect Jared Mitchell sustained a tendon tear on the inside of his left ankle during Friday’s 10-7 win over the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium after running into the left-field wall to make a catch.

Mitchell had entered the game as a defensive replacement and made a spectacular catch on a ball hit by Juan Rivera to make the first out of the sixth inning, but he hit the wall hard. He will undergo surgery next week, and his recovery and rehab time will be set at that point.

March 11, 2010

“He’s a speed and power guy,” Pierre said. “He’s a five-tool kind of guy. I think I can help him with two, two and a half. I tell him just to relax and just have fun, that’s the most important thing. He’s in a situation with Ozzie (manager Guillen) here in the clubhouse where it’s going to be fun.